WhatsApp quoteBoth IFZA Free Zone and RAKEZ offer 100% foreign ownership and UAE residence visas; the differences lie in price, reputation, office options and activity lists. Choosing between IFZA Free Zone and RAKEZ comes down to cost, location, activity fit and how many visas you need, and this page compares all four side by side. Day to day, if you are torn between IFZA Free Zone and RAKEZ, use the table and verdicts below, then message GoldenKey for a recommendation specific to your activity.
IFZA Free Zone vs RAKEZ at a glance
| Feature | IFZA Free Zone | RAKEZ |
|---|---|---|
| Jurisdiction type | Free Zone | Free Zone |
| Licence from | on request | AED 7,500 |
| Renewal fee | on request | AED 6,500 |
| Extra visa cost | on request | AED 2,500 |
| Foreign ownership | 100% | 100% |
| Trade with UAE mainland | Via distributor / dual licence | Via distributor / dual licence |
| Residence visas | Yes, per package | Yes, per package |
| Typical processing | 5 working days | 5 working days |
| Office options | Virtual Office, Flexi-desk or Office Suite | Flexi-desk, Office Suite or Warehouse |
| Best known for | dubai address, up to 3 activities on one licence and 100% foreign ownership | competitive pricing, industrial land available and academic zone |
Our verdict
Choose IFZA Free Zone if
you value dubai address and up to 3 activities on one licence and your activity sits in trading and services, where IFZA Free Zone has the stronger track record.
Choose RAKEZ if
you value competitive pricing and industrial land available and your activity sits in trading and industrial, where RAKEZ has the stronger track record.
About IFZA Free Zone
IFZA Free Zone is a free zone jurisdiction located at Dubai Silicon Oasis district, Dubai — adjacent to Meydan and Academic City. Its strengths are dubai address, up to 3 activities on one licence, 100% foreign ownership and top-tier bank access, and the activities it is best known for include trading, services, technology and consultancy. A standard file is processed in around 5 working days.
About RAKEZ
RAKEZ is a free zone jurisdiction located at Ras Al Khaimah emirate — 45 minutes from Dubai via Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road. It is chosen for competitive pricing, industrial land available, academic zone and 100% foreign ownership, with popular activities including trading, industrial, consultancy and services. Processing typically takes 5 working days.
Why compare with GoldenKey
GoldenKey is based in Ajman Free Zone and has helped founders from more than 60 countries with choosing between IFZA Free Zone and RAKEZ, so the paperwork, approvals and timing hold no surprises for us. Day to day, we will tell you plainly if IFZA Free Zone and RAKEZ is not the right choice for your plan and point you to a better option, even when that option costs less. From day one, our quotations for choosing between IFZA Free Zone and RAKEZ list every government fee and our service fee on one page, in writing, before you pay anything.
Just as important, start your IFZA Free Zone and RAKEZ journey with a free consultation: share a few details about your business and we will map out the fastest route to your licence.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, IFZA Free Zone or RAKEZ?
Compare the live licence prices in the table above; the lower headline price is not always the lower total once office, visas and renewals are included. GoldenKey prepares a like-for-like total for your visa count.
Can I move from IFZA Free Zone to RAKEZ later?
Yes. You can open a second company or branch in RAKEZ and transfer the business, then close the IFZA Free Zone entity. We plan the sequence so visas and bank accounts are not interrupted.
Which is better for a bank account, IFZA Free Zone or RAKEZ?
Banks look at the business profile more than the jurisdiction, although Dubai-registered and mainland entities are reviewed slightly faster by some banks. GoldenKey prepares the file either way.
Do both IFZA Free Zone and RAKEZ allow 100% foreign ownership?
IFZA Free Zone does. RAKEZ does, with no local partner required.
